Tip time: Raptors' Casey not surprised by coaching switch

Toronto - Dwane Casey knows how changes can be made abruptly in the NBA.

So the Toronto Raptors coach was not too stunned to hear that Jim Boylan was replacing Scott Skiles as Bucks coach a few days ago.

Boylan's Bucks meet the Raptors in a Sunday matinee, Canadian style.

"Nothing surprises me in the NBA," Casey said in his remarks to reporters about an hour before tip-off. "I've been there before, seen it, done it, been in that situation.

"That's our league. Not trying to be flippant about it. There's different situations, circumstances or whatever it is. I do know Scott has done a good job with that team. They've got his personality. They play hard; they scratch, they claw. So you're in for a 48-minute fight.

"That's what we're going to face today."

The Raptors conclude a six-game home stand today and are 3-2 thus far, with victories over Portland, Philadelphia and Charlotte. The losses came against Sacramento and Oklahoma City.

Toronto ranks first in the NBA in assists (25.8 average) over the last 10 games. That's due in large measure to the steady play of Spanish guard Jose Calderon, who ranks sixth in the NBA in assists (7.8 per game) and is first in assist/turnover ratio (4.52/1).

"He's himself," Casey said of the 31-year-old Calderon. "All of our players need help. They need a quarterback out there. They need the Peyton Manning to help make decisions for them. We don't have the one-on-one creator that can make plays from the wing position.

"He's our computer on the floor. He's won a championship (with Spain). Winning is winning. His thought process is in the right place."

Bucks coach Jim Boylan said his team will try to pressure Calderon to keep him from getting comfortable.

"They're always tough on these afternoon games, I know that," Boylan said. "The key is to cut off some of Jose's penetration, try to get to him early in the pick-and-rolls so that he can't get in the lane and draw the defense and kick out to these guys."

The Bucks are trying to bounce back after being outscored, 33-11, in the third quarter in Friday's 103-87 home loss to Detroit. It was the first defeat under Boylan after the Bucks won their first two games under their new coach.

"We've just got to stay focused," Boylan said. "We have to play our pace. We want to get up and down and get the ball out in the open floor. But we need to get to stops in order to do that."